When the Foundation for Care for Lepers No.1 was taken into use in 1857, it was the third big hospital for lepers in Bergen. The first was St. Jørgen’s Hospital, which is originally from the early fifteenth century. The second was a research hospital – the Lungegård Hospital – which was built in 1849. The Foundation for Care for Lepers was situated just across the Lungegård Hospital, and a couple of hundred meters from St. Jørgen.
Bergen Fire Station is situated in central Bergen next to both the old and the new Town Hall. The fire station was built in 1888, but the fire brigade had used the beautiful Hagerup’s town house as residence for the fire chief since 1863.
Even though the remains of the Cistercian Nun Convent, Nonneseter, are found in a central part of Bergen today, it was originally located outside the town. Cistercian nuns spent their time here in prayer and work, probably more peacefully than their male colleagues at Munkeliv Monastery. At least until the early 16th century, when the alleged decadence at Nonneseter Convent became the talk of the town.
Nykirken was built in 1621 after the inhabitants on Nordnes had argued that they had such a long and difficult walk to the Cathedral. When completed, the church was named “The New Church” since the other churches in Bergen were already several hundred years old. The name has later become highly appropriate – the church has been rebuilt many times since the seventeenth century.
The fire station at Skansen was built in 1903. After a big fire in 1901, the city acknowledged the need for an up-to-date fire department and found hidden resources for its funding. The investments of 1903 are still enjoyable for us today - the fire station is now a cultural heritage site and among the town’s many prides. Mind you, not everyone praised the building’s architecture in 1903…
The small Church of Christ and the large Church of Christ were central in the church centre which developed on Holmen during the Middle Ages. The churches were located north of Håkon’s Hall, but there are no remains of them today. These churches were churches for kings and queens – coronations and interments were held here.
Doctor Wiesener’s public bath house opened September 7. 1889, the year after the death of medical doctor Joachim Wiesener. The bath house was erected in grateful memory to the doctors professional work and for his valuable contributions to the community. Locally initiated, the bath house was erected for the benefit of "the less fortunate" as well as in fond memory of the good doctor. Today the building is home to a pub that promotes neighbourly friendship.
The basement in the Town Hall was used as a prison until 1867, when Bergen County Jail was ready to incarcerate criminals – one man to one prison cell. In the Town Hall basement more than twelve prisoners could be put in each cell. The basement also accommodated the mentally ill in a bedlam.
Korskirken, the Church of the Cross, was first mentioned in written sources in 1181. It has burnt several times, and today we can clearly see how the church has been restored and expanded time and again. The church originally got its name from being dedicated to the Holy Cross, but during its many reconstructions it has also been given the shape of a cross.